JPH04371185A - Device for managing trouble at recreation facilities - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable even unskilled persons to promptly deal with trouble by providing an image control means which designs through the control of a touch- panel switch a place where the trouble has happened which is displayed in the final image among graphic mode images, thereby displaying information for solving the trouble as a character mode image. CONSTITUTION:The occurrence of any trouble is detected by a trouble detection means V and data about a place where the trouble has happened is output by a data processing means 6 according to the result of the detection. A transparent touch-panel switch 8 is provided on the screen of an image display unit 7 which displays recreation facilities by means of graphic mode images and the place where the trouble has happened is designated through the control of the switch 8 whereby a detailed image is displayed as a next image. An image control means 11 is provided and the place where the trouble has happened which is displayed in the final image is designated through the control of the touch-panel switch 8 and thereby information for solving the trouble is displayed as a character mode image. If trouble happens at plural places, the image of one place where the trouble has been solved is automatically switched to those of remaining places.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is intended for use in gaming equipment such as pachinko halls, when trouble occurs somewhere in the gaming equipment, it notifies the manager of the trouble location in an easy-to-understand manner so that the trouble can be quickly resolved. This is a trouble management device for gaming equipment, which is capable of taking measures to prevent problems, and more specifically, includes trouble detection means for detecting the occurrence of trouble in the gaming equipment, and trouble detection means for detecting trouble locations based on the trouble detection results by the trouble detection means. A data processing means for outputting data, an image display device for displaying gaming equipment in a graphic mode image, and a transparent touch panel switch provided on the screen of the image display device are provided, and the data from the data processing means is The location where the trouble has occurred is displayed in the graphics mode image inputted to the image display device, and by specifying the trouble location displayed in the graphics mode image by operating the touch panel switch, you can play the game at the location where the trouble has occurred. The present invention relates to a trouble management device for gaming equipment in which a detailed image regarding the equipment is displayed as a graphic mode image as the next image.

0002

[Prior Art] As a trouble management device for the gaming equipment mentioned above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-49787 discloses a trouble management device that is equipped with a display device that displays trouble spots in a specific color in a graphic mode image of the gaming equipment. Disclosed. In this trouble management device, when you specify a trouble occurrence location displayed in a graphic mode image by operating a touch panel switch, a detailed image of the gaming equipment at the trouble occurrence location is displayed as the next image as a graphic mode image, and When the switch image portion in the image is designated by operating the touch panel switch, the screen of the display device returns to the initial display image displaying the entire gaming facility.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional trouble management device, a display device is used for the purpose of displaying the trouble occurrence location on the screen, and in order to solve the trouble, the administrator has to Since it is necessary to go to the location where a problem occurs in the equipment and think about the cause of the problem and ways to resolve it, managers who are not experienced with gaming equipment will not be able to quickly deal with the problem even if they know where the problem is occurring. There is a risk. In addition, since the screen of the display device can be switched to the initial display image by operating the touch panel switch, if the administrator neglects to switch to the initial display image, even after the problem has been resolved, the game where the problem occurred may be This has the drawback that detailed images of the equipment remain displayed, making it easy to overlook even if a problem occurs elsewhere in the gaming equipment. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a trouble management device for gaming equipment that can easily manage the occurrence of trouble by effectively utilizing an image display device.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first characteristic configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a trouble management device for gaming equipment as described above, in which the last image among the images displayed in the graphic mode image is displayed. An image control means is provided for displaying information for resolving the trouble at the trouble spot as a text mode image by specifying the trouble spot displayed on the screen by operating the touch panel switch. A second feature of the present invention to achieve the above object is that in the above-mentioned trouble management device for gaming equipment, when there are multiple trouble occurrence locations displayed in the graphic mode image, one of the trouble locations is An image switching control means is provided for automatically switching the image displayed on the image display device to a graphic mode image displaying the remaining trouble occurrence locations when trouble resolution at one trouble occurrence location is detected. be.

[0005]

[Operation] According to the first characteristic configuration, information for troubleshooting, such as the cause of the trouble and its solution, is displayed on the image display device in the form of a character mode image. However, by reading the displayed contents, troubles can be dealt with quickly. According to the second characteristic configuration, when the trouble at one trouble occurrence location is resolved, the remaining trouble occurrence locations are automatically displayed as a graphic mode image, so that there is little risk of overlooking the trouble occurrence location.

[0006]

[Effects of the Invention] Both the trouble management device for gaming equipment as set forth in claim 1 and the trouble management device for gaming equipment as set forth in claim 2 can easily manage the occurrence of trouble.

[0007]

[Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows a slot machine gaming facility in which a large number of slot machines A are arranged in a hall.
This gaming facility consists of a plurality of gaming islands C, each consisting of a slot machine A and a medal lending machine B for slot machines installed side by side.
(The figure shows only one game island), a main hopper D1 for storing medals, and a sub-hopper for storing medals located at a higher position than the game island C and holding the medals in the main hopper D1. a lifting device E for lifting to D2;
A medal supply device G supplies the medals in the sub-hopper D2 to a supply hopper D3 for medal supply provided at the end of each game island C via the medal payout device F1, and a medal supply device G supplies the medals in the supply hopper D3 to the supply hopper D3 provided at the end of each game island C. A medal replenishing device H is provided for replenishing slot machine A and medal lending machine B of C through medal payout devices F2 and F3.

[0008] The main hopper D1, the sub-hopper D
2 and the supply hopper D3 are each equipped with an electric motor J.
Belt conveyors K1, K2, K3 that discharge the stored medals by driving of the medals 1, J2, and J3, and magnetic level sensors L1, L2, L3 that detect whether the medals are stored within a predetermined storage level range. , belt conveyor K1,K
2. Optical rotation sensors M1, M2, M3 that detect whether K3 is being driven, and belt conveyor K1,
Magnetic medal presence/absence sensors N1, N2, and N3 are provided to detect whether or not there are medals on K2 and K3.

The lifting device E drives and rotates a pair of endless belts E1 using an electric motor J4, and transports the medals discharged from the main hopper D1 onto the pair of endless belts E1.
The endless belt E1
An optical rotation sensor M4 that detects whether or not the main hopper D1 is driven and rotated, and a magnetic medal retention sensor P1 that detects retention of medals discharged from the main hopper D1 are provided.

[0010] The medal supply device G and the medal supply device H are each configured to drive a belt conveyor using electric motors J5 and J6 to place and convey medals discharged from the sub-hopper D2 or the supply hopper D3. , magnetic medal retention sensors P2 and P3 are provided to detect accumulation of medals discharged from the sub-hopper D2 or the supply hopper D3.

Each of the medal dispensing devices F1, F2, and F3 has a swing plate (not shown) that can swing between a dispensing position that traverses the conveyance path of the belt conveyor and a standby position that retires from the conveyance path. By operating solenoids Q1, Q2, and Q3, the medals are switched to the dispensing position, and the medals that have been placed and transported are received by the rocking plate and dropped to one side of the belt conveyor.
It is configured to be guided and discharged to the supply hopper D3, the medal hopper D4 of the slot machine A, or the medal hopper D5 of the medal lending machine B, and is provided with proximity sensors R1, R2, and R3 for detecting a change in attitude of the swing plate to the payout attitude. It is being

The slot machine A includes a magnetic level sensor L4 that detects whether or not medals are stored within a predetermined storage level range in the medal hopper D4, and an optical sensor that detects the feeding of medals from the medal hopper D4. A type medal feeding sensor T1 is provided.

The medal lending machine B discharges the inserted bill to a bill conveyance device (not shown) on the back side of the machine when the inserted bill is identified as a genuine bill by the bill validator 1, and then dispenses the bill into a predetermined number of coins. An optical bill sensor S is configured to feed out medals from the medal hopper D5 and return the bill when it is identified as a counterfeit bill, and detects movement of the bill fed into the bill validator 1. , a magnetic level sensor L5 that detects whether medals are stored within a predetermined storage level range in the medal hopper D5, and an optical medal feeding sensor T2 that detects medal feeding from the medal hopper D5. It is provided.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are block diagrams for explaining operation control of the gaming equipment, in which the main hopper D1, sub-hopper D2, lifting device E, medal dispensing device F1, and medal supply device G are connected to the main controller 2. The slot machine A, medal lending machine B, supply hopper D3, medal payout devices F2, F3, and medal supply device H that constitute the game island C are controlled by the sub-control device 3 for each game island C. The main control device 2 and the sub-control device 3 are connected. Furthermore, Figure 8
In the following, one sub-control device 3 and one medal payout device F1 are shown for the sake of simplicity, but in reality, they are connected as many as the number of game islands C. Also, in Figure 9, slot machine A is used for simplicity.
, one medal lending machine B, and one medal dispensing device F2, F3 are shown, but in reality, all of the slot machines A and medal lending machines B provided on one game island C and the corresponding number of medals are shown. The payout devices F2 and F3 are connected thereto.

[0015] In the sub-control device 2, the slot machine A
Alternatively, when a medal request signal is output from the level sensors L4, L5 of the medal lending machine B, the medal dispensing devices F2, F corresponding to the slot machine A or the medal lending machine B
An energizing signal is output to the solenoids Q2 and Q3 of No. 3 to switch the swing plate to the payout position, and a start signal is output to the electric motor J6 to drive the medal replenishing device H. Thereafter, a start signal is sent to the electric motor J3. is output and the belt conveyor K3 of the replenishment hopper D3 is driven.
Medals are supplied to the medal hoppers D4 and D5 of the slot machine A or the medal lending machine B. Level sensor L4
, when the output of the medal request signal from L5 is stopped, the output of the start signal to the electric motor J3 is stopped, the belt conveyor K3 of the replenishment hopper D3 is stopped, and the distance from the replenishment hopper D3 to the medal dispensing devices F2 and F3 is stopped. After the corresponding predetermined time has elapsed, the output of the activation signal to the electric motor J6 is stopped, the medal replenishing device H is stopped, and the output of the energization signal to the solenoids Q2 and Q3 is stopped, and the swing plate is switched to the standby position. Instead, all of the medals discharged from the supply hopper D3 to the medal supply device H are supplied to the medal hoppers D4 and D5.

In the main control device 2, when a medal request signal is output from the level sensor L3 of the replenishment hopper D3 via the sub-control device 3, the solenoid Q1 of the medal dispensing device F1 corresponding to the replenishment hopper D3 is energized. A signal is output and the swing plate is switched to the payout position, and a start signal is output to the electric motor J5 to drive the medal supply device G. Thereafter, a start signal is output to the electric motor J2 to move the sub-hopper D2. The belt conveyor K2 is driven and medals are supplied to the supply hopper D3. When the output of the medal request signal from the level sensor L3 stops, the output of the start signal to the electric motor J2 is stopped, and the belt conveyor K2 of the sub-hopper D2 is stopped, and the output of the medal request signal from the sub-hopper D2 is adjusted according to the distance from the medal dispensing device F1. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the output of the activation signal to the electric motor J5 is stopped, the medal supply device G is stopped, and the output of the energization signal to the solenoid Q1 is stopped, the swing plate switches to the standby position, and the sub All of the medals discharged from the hopper D2 to the medal supply device G are supplied to the supply hopper D3. Additionally, when a medal request signal is output from the level sensor L2 of the sub-hopper D2,
A start signal is output to the electric motor J4 to drive the lifting device E, and then a start signal is output to the electric motor J1 to drive the belt conveyor K1 of the main hopper D1, and medals are supplied to the sub-hopper D2. . When the output of the medal request signal from the level sensor L2 stops, the output of the start signal to the electric motor J1 is stopped, the belt conveyor K1 of the main hopper D1 stops, and the lifting distance from the main hopper D1 to the sub hopper D2 is changed. After the corresponding predetermined time has elapsed, the output of the start signal to the electric motor J4 is stopped, the lifting device E is stopped, and all the medals discharged from the main hopper D1 to the lifting device E are replenished to the sub-hopper D2. . When a medal request signal is output from the level sensor L1 of the main hopper D1, the shortage of medals in the main hopper D1 is displayed on the hall monitoring panel 4, and the medals are transported manually or from a medal washer (not shown). The transported medals are replenished.

Next, a trouble management device for managing troubles occurring in the gaming equipment will be explained. This trouble management device, as shown in FIG. It has been set up and configured.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the trouble detecting device V is composed of trouble detecting sections V1 to V15 arranged at predetermined locations of the gaming equipment, and V1 is used to detect medals in the medal hopper D4 of the slot machine A. Even though the payout signal is output, the medal payout sensor T1
A medal jam detection unit V2 detects that a medal jam has occurred in the medal hopper D4 when the medal dispensing machine does not detect medal feeding.
Although the authenticity of the banknotes inserted into the bank was determined,
When the banknote sensor S does not detect movement of banknotes, a banknote jam detection unit V3 that detects that a banknote jam has occurred in the banknote validator 1 sends a medal payout signal to the medal hopper D5 of the medal lending machine B. a medal jam detection unit V that detects that medals are jammed in the medal hopper D5 when the medal dispense sensor T2 does not detect medal dispensing even though medals are being output;
4 indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the drive system of the belt conveyor K3 when the rotation sensor M3 does not detect the drive of the belt conveyor K3 even though a start signal is output to the electric motor J3 of the replenishment hopper D3. The conveyor abnormality detection unit V5 detects that the medal presence/absence sensor N3 is not working on the belt conveyor K3 even though a start signal has been output to the electric motor J3 of the replenishment hopper D3.
Medal jam detection units V6 and V7 that detect that medals are jammed in the supply hopper D3 when no medals are detected on the top output energizing signals to the solenoids Q2 and Q3 of the medal payout devices F2 and F3. a solenoid abnormality detection unit V that detects that an abnormality has occurred in the solenoids Q2 and Q3 when the proximity sensors R2 and R3 do not detect a change in the posture of the rocking plate despite the
8 indicates that an abnormality occurs in the conveyance system of the medal supply device H when the medal retention sensor P3 detects the accumulation of medals even though the activation signal is output to the electric motor J6 of the medal supply device H. The conveyance abnormality detection units V9 and V11 detect that rotation sensors M1 and M2
Conveyor abnormality detection parts V10 and V1 detect that an abnormality has occurred in the drive system of the belt conveyors K1 and K2 when the belt conveyors K1 and K2 are not driven.
2 is when the medal presence/absence sensors N1, N2 do not detect medals on the belt conveyors K1, K2 even though the activation signal is output to the electric motors J1, J2 of the main hopper D1, sub hopper D2. a medal jam detection unit that detects that a medal jam problem has occurred in the main hopper D1 and the sub-hopper D2;
V13 activates the endless belt E when the rotation sensor M4 does not detect the driving of the endless belt E1 even though a start signal is output to the electric motor J4 of the lifting device E.
A lifting abnormality detection device V14 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the drive system of the medal drive system V14, which detects that a medal jam has occurred when the medal retention sensor P1 detects accumulation of medals. The clogging detection unit V15 causes the conveyance system of the medal supply device G to be activated when the medal retention sensor P2 detects accumulation of medals even though a start signal is output to the electric motor J5 of the medal supply device G. A conveyance abnormality detection unit that detects that an abnormality has occurred;
V16 indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the solenoid Q1 when the proximity sensor R1 does not detect a change in the posture of the swing plate even though the energization signal is output to the solenoid Q1 of the medal dispensing device F1. This is the solenoid abnormality detection section.

The maintenance checker 5 includes a data processing section 6 that processes data input from the trouble detection device V via the main control device 2, and a display device that displays the gaming equipment in graphic mode images U1, U2, and U3. 7, a transparent touch panel switch 8 provided overlappingly on the screen of the display device 7, and an image switching control section 9 that automatically switches the display image of the display device 7 are assembled into a unit. is equipped with an image control section 11 that controls the image content displayed on the screen 10 based on signals input from the data processing section 6, the touch panel switch 8, and the image switching control section 9.

The data processing unit 6 compares whether there is a change in the data signal input from the trouble detection device V, for example, whether the data signal input from a low level has changed to a high level. , when there is a change, trouble detection units V1 to V15 corresponding to the data signal
determines that a trouble has occurred, and inputs data such as the trouble location and character information for solving the trouble to the image control unit 11, and when the data signal changes in the opposite direction, the trouble is solved. I judge that.

The display device 7 normally displays a schematic diagram of the entire gaming equipment as a first graphic mode image U1, and a touch panel switch located above a desired location in the first graphic mode image U1 is pressed with a fingertip. By touching the button to specify the desired location, a detailed image of the gaming equipment at the desired location as well as text information for resolving the trouble will be displayed as the next image, sequentially in the second and third graphic mode images U2 and U3.
, is displayed in character mode image U4. Next, the management method by the maintenance checker 5 will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 2. When the power is turned on, the general layout of the entire gaming equipment, for example, main hopper D1, lifting device E, sub-hopper D2, medal supply device G, and gaming island C.
is displayed as a first graphic mode image U1 as shown in FIG. 3, with the arrangement of . In addition, fD1 is an image showing the main hopper D1, fE is an image showing the lifting device E, and fD
2 is an image showing the sub-hopper D2, fG is an image showing the medal supply device G, and fC1, fC2, fC3 are images showing the three game islands C.

After that, any of the trouble detection sections V1 to V15 detects the occurrence of trouble, and data such as the location where the trouble has occurred and character information for solving the trouble is input from the data processing section 6 to the image control section 11. When it is done,
The locations where these troubles have occurred are displayed in the first figure mode image U1, and for example, if some kind of trouble has occurred in a plurality of game islands C, the game island images fC1 and fC2 where the trouble has occurred are displayed in a blinking or color-coded manner. be done.

[0023] When the administrator specifies the trouble occurrence location displayed in the first graphic mode image U1 using the touch panel switch 8, a detailed image regarding the gaming equipment at the trouble occurrence location is displayed as the next image in the second graphic mode image U2. Second graphic mode image U2 displayed as the next image
The location where the trouble occurred is displayed in more detail. For example, if you specify the game island image fC1, as shown in FIG.
Slot machine A, medal lending machine B, supply hopper D3,
The arrangement of the medal replenishing device H and the medal dispensing devices F2 and F3 is displayed in the second graphic mode image U2, and for example, when a trouble occurs in the medal lending machine B, the image fB indicating the medal lending machine B blinks or is color-coded. Is displayed. still,
fA is an image showing the slot machine A, fD3 is an image showing the replenishment hopper D3, fH is an image showing the medal replenishing device H, and fF2 and fF3 are images showing the medal payout devices F2 and F3.

Furthermore, when the trouble location in the second graphic mode image U2 displayed as the next image is specified using the touch panel switch 8 in the same manner as described above, a more detailed image of the trouble occurrence location is displayed as the next image in the third image. The third image displayed in the figure mode image U3 and displayed as the next image
The trouble location is displayed in more detail in the graphic mode image U3, and for example, if you specify the medal lending machine image fB,
As shown in FIG. 5, the bill validator image f1 and the medal hopper image fD5 are displayed to resemble the shape of the actual medal lending machine B, and for example, if a trouble has occurred in both the bill validator 1 and the medal hopper D5. When there is a banknote validator image f1
and the medal hopper image fD5 are displayed blinking or in different colors.

[0025] Then, when the trouble occurrence point displayed in the final figure mode image U3, which is the most detailed image, is specified using the touch panel switch 8, text information for solving the trouble at the trouble occurrence point is displayed in the text mode. Displayed as the next image in image U4, for example, if bill validator image f1 is specified, as shown in FIG. In the text mode image U4, instructions such as opening the case of the medal lending machine B and removing jammed banknotes are displayed.

[0026] When the trouble is resolved, the data signals from the trouble detection units V1 to 15 at the location where the trouble occurred change, so the data processing unit 6 determines that the trouble at the location where the trouble occurred has been resolved. When no trouble occurrence location is detected, a first graphic mode image U1 showing the general layout of the entire gaming equipment is displayed. If there are other trouble locations remaining after one trouble has been resolved, the data processing section 6 outputs a signal indicating the remaining trouble occurrence locations to the image switching control section 9,
The image switching control unit 9 selects the figure mode image U1 to be displayed next.
, U2, U3 to the image control unit 11,
In the graphic mode images U1, U2, and U3, for example, the problem that has already been resolved is a bill jam in the bill validator 1,
If the remaining trouble occurs in the medal hopper D5 of the same medal lending machine B where the bill validator 1 is installed, the third graphic mode image U3 is displayed, and only the medal hopper image fD5 blinks or Displayed by color.

[Another Example] A. Text information for aiding understanding may be included in the graphic mode image displaying the gaming equipment. stomach. The text mode image showing text information for troubleshooting may include graphic information to aid understanding. cormorant. The number of detailed images that can be sequentially switched by designation using the touch panel switch is not particularly limited. workman. The graphic mode image that displays the remaining trouble occurrence locations may be one that displays the trouble occurrence locations in the initial display image that is normally displayed. O. The gaming equipment trouble management device according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to managing troubles in the gaming equipment as a whole, but may also be used to manage troubles in a specific part or range of the gaming equipment. mosquito. The concept of troubles managed by the trouble management device for gaming equipment according to the present invention includes whether or not the time for replacement of parts constituting the gaming equipment is near or has passed. tree. Depending on the content of the trouble, priority is given to the trouble that needs to be resolved quickly, and when multiple troubles occur at the same time, or when another trouble occurs while a trouble occurrence is being displayed, the trouble with the highest priority is displayed first. It may be implemented by providing a control device that controls the operation. nine. The gaming equipment is not limited to slot machines, but may also be gaming equipment for pachinko games, gaming equipment for video games, amusement park ride equipment, and the like.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are written in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1] Block diagram of trouble management device

[Figure 2] Flowchart explaining the management method

[Figure 3] Display image by image display device

[Figure 4] Display image by image display device

[Figure 5] Display image by image display device

[Figure 6] Display image by image display device

[Figure 7] Schematic diagram of gaming equipment

[Figure 8] Block diagram for explaining operation control of gaming equipment

[Figure 9] Block diagram for explaining operation control of gaming equipment

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Data processing means 7 Image display device 8 Touch panel switch 9 Image switching control means 11 Image control means U1 Figure mode image U2 Figure mode image U3 Figure mode image U4 Character mode image V Trouble detection means

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Trouble detection means (V) for detecting occurrence of trouble in gaming equipment; and said trouble detection means (V).
a data processing means (6) that outputs data regarding the trouble occurrence location based on the trouble detection results obtained by the system; an image display device (7) that displays the gaming equipment as graphic mode images (U1, U2, U3); A transparent touch panel switch (8) provided on the screen of the device (7) is provided, and data from the data processing means (6) is input to the image display device (7) to display a graphic mode image (U1
, U2, U3), and the trouble location displayed in the graphic mode image (U1, U2, U3) is displayed on the touch panel switch (8).
), the detailed image of the gaming equipment where the trouble has occurred will be displayed as the next image as a graphical mode image (U2, U3). By operating the touch panel switch (8) to specify the location where the trouble occurred in the final image (U3) of the images displayed in , U3), information for resolving the trouble at the location where the trouble occurred is displayed. A trouble management device for a gaming facility, characterized in that it is provided with an image control means (11) for displaying a character mode image (U4). 2. Trouble detection means (V) for detecting occurrence of trouble in gaming equipment; and said trouble detection means (V).
a data processing means (6) that outputs data regarding the trouble occurrence location based on the trouble detection results obtained by the system; an image display device (7) that displays the gaming equipment as graphic mode images (U1, U2, U3); A transparent touch panel switch (8) provided on the screen of the device (7) is provided, and data from the data processing means (6) is input to the image display device (7) to display a graphic mode image (U1
, U2, U3), and the trouble location displayed in the graphic mode image (U1, U2, U3) is displayed on the touch panel switch (8).
), the detailed image of the gaming equipment where the trouble has occurred will be displayed as the next image as a graphical mode image (U2, U3). , U3), when the problem is resolved in one of the trouble locations, the image displayed on the image display device (7) is displayed on the remaining trouble locations. Figure mode image (U1) that displays the occurrence location
, U2, U3).